The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1887-06-15

readiness. They are valuable asst tants
and will without doubt make gonl me.
thanics. The stranger passing the agen,
CIV is surprised to find II q Indians there,
and upon inquiry is told that the Indi-
N arr n! on their farms. and nnly ,nnc
to the ngrin:v TN isstic days. III, II only
remaining long enough to receive the
raiions allotted them, and are gone.
The men seldom come to the agency
even then, the matter of drawing rations
is almost entirely left to the
The men arc only allowed to leave their
farms by first securing n pass from the
farmer of his district. Agent William
son has established farming districts,
and has a white farmer in charge Of
each district, holding the farmer respon-
sible for the faithful discharge of his
duty, a part of which is to see that every
Indian attends to his crop properly, and
remains at home. II was thought by
the old employees around the agency
that it would be impossible 10 enforce
such rigid discipline, and that Agent
Williamson would be forced 10 modify
his rules. The agent, however, was in
flexible. and openly stated that he lad
made ND his mind to revolutionize the
whole system, and had determined to
make sweeping reforms and radical
changes, and wanted no advice to the
contrary; that if any employe thought
he could not succeed, he must keep his
opinion to himself; that if he faile,l he
would leave the agency and resign. The
result has been most satisfactory, the In
dams accepted tho situation, and the
most surprised people at the result are
the old employees around the agency,
who state that the agent is master OF
the situation, the wisdom of his policy
now being apparent to all.
The agency is situated near Clusters
battle field. Your c~nrresnondent was
surprised to find the monument sur
rounded by a high iron fence, and upon
inquiry was informed that the fence was
built solely to protect the monument
from the profane hands of that most
detestable of all vandals, the tourist and
relic hunter. The monument has been
considerably detaced, and the govern.
ment found it necessary to send work.
men from the east to redress portions
that had been %disfigured. Nothing
seems to be too sacred. The Washing
ton monument has suffered; the tomb o
Washington and Surroundings at Noun
Vern.n have been despoiled: is it ther
strange that these hated monsters who
choose to visit the lone tomb erected tt
the memory of the fallen heroes of the
battle of the Little Big Horn, violate
tho sacred granite slabs? People who
are capable of such vandalism deserve
the srvrrest criticism, punishment ant
absolute OstracIsm.
An annual roundup with 100 men
800 horses and twenty-five wagons arr
gathering cattle northeast from the agen
cy, preparatory TO moving the stock from
! the reservation that has drifted IN dur
!, ing the winter. The managers are quit
jubilant, claiming that the losses ar
, much less than has been reported.
!, Fort Custer looks much improved il
: lis general appearance; ten full com
panies are garrisoned there. large
] practice seems at this season of the yea
| to be enjoyed by both officers and mer
: and serves to break the monotony.
0 noticeable feature of this garrison is tn
large number Of young officers, lat
0 graduates of West point. Railroad rum
blings are heard ever in this quiet re
a gion. From representatives of the CHI
/. cage 4 Northwestern railroad compan
we learn that this energetic and entel
0 prising corporation will compete strong
e er than ever for the stock trade of south
e eastern Montana and Wyoming thi
1 year, and that it is the general belle
that this road will push forward to tn
q Yellowstone, lap tie great Gallatin va
n lev, the National Park, and pursue il
y restless way to the tide waters of tn
racine, at an early day.
Q Many prosperous are reported in til
@ Big Horn mountains and IN Clark
q Fork, Rock Creek and uther streams, a
tracted by the belief that the Rock
II Fork & Cooke Citv railway will be bni
in the near future, the Indians .ayir
@ consented I" the road passing throug
~ ,,ats,- ~ ,I,u .,,,,;n,
The streams are all very much swo
len and travelling il rendered very diff
cult. M~oUNrAINEER.
Fort Custer, June 9th 1887.
! ITO wy